PlayStation Move Heroes Preview

• by Matt Cabral
• December 10, 2010 18:14 PM PT

We play as Ratchet--in Sly Cooper's world!--in Sony's mascot mixing, PlayStation Move-enabled, action-packed entry

What we're talking about: PlayStation Move Heroes, Nihilistic Software's upcoming Sony stars- and sidekicks-featuring Move title.

Where we saw it: SCEA and Nihilistic Software brought the latest build to Sony's 2010/2011 private press preview event in New York City.

What you need to know:

• PlayStation Move Heroes, previously Heroes on the Move, brings Sony's stable of stars--Ratchet, Jak, Sly, and their sidekicks--together for an arcadey and accessible Move-controlled romp.


• Based on settings from the stars' respective franchises, nearly 60 levels task players with a variety of challenges--shooting, rescuing, collecting objects--often under a time constraint. The quick-hit missions last between 3-5 minutes and ramp in difficulty as the player progresses.


• Most characters are playable in all areas, so it‘s not unusual to find Sly sleuthing through Jak's Haven City or Jak battling in Sly's Paris. Supported by vibrant visuals based on the three series' graphical presentations, nearly all characters, environments, enemies, and weapons will be recognizable to fans of the iconic franchises.


• Playing as Ratchet, armed with his trusty Plasma Whip, our demo took us through Sly's cel-shaded Paris. Here we were tasked with taking out hordes of Deathbots, while collecting crystals to amp a special power, the Groovitron, which Ratchet fans will recall sets enemies dancing under a disco ball. We also smashed baddies to bits with a standard whip flail and a flame-whip attack, powered by holding the Move controller above our shoulder for a few seconds.


• We also got a brief taste of a Bentley--Sly's sort-of sidekick--level that saw the genius turtle facing similar threats in Paris. Navigating the landscape in his hovercraft, the nerdy reptile blasted the metallic bullies with a shotgun-like Blaster (from the Ratchet series) and used his special power to hack into their robot brains, which turned them against each other.


• PMH supports co-op play, but Nihilistic isn't revealing any details just yet.

Point in development cycle: Based on our brief time behind the Move, PMH--due out in the spring--seems to be pretty far along the development path.

My take: It's important to have you’re expectations in the right place when approaching PMH. Despite its high profile stars and sidekicks, it's not intended as a new chapter in any of the characters' series; those anticipating it as a Sly sequel just because Sly's in it, may be disappointed. However, approach it as an arcadey Move entry that happens to feature some of Sony's most recognizable anthropomorphic stars, and you're in for a real treat. Following a light learning curve, I found the controls intuitive; the navigation controller handles basic character movement, while the motion controller aims and fires your main weapon. Wielding Ratchet's whip was quite satisfying, and actually had us wondering what an Indiana Jones game might be like behind the Move. The game's visuals also impressed, retaining the charm and personality of the character's respective environments. The mascot mash-up concept also worked surprisingly well; checkered-clothed patio tables and the Eiffel Tower totally put us in Sly's world, while Deathbots being reduced to piles of nuts, bolts and scrap metal reminded us we were in Ratchet's boots. Accessible gameplay, well-implemented Move support, and a fan-pleasing cast of characters could finally give Sony's motion-sensing peripheral its killer app.

http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/217577/playstation-move-heroes-preview/

oooh i smell a ultimate motion controlled game coming our way

Sounds solid. Will this game have its own independent story or is it just a game which has levels with specific challenges?

By the sounds of things i don't think it would have a story and if they did try and tie it all in that way the story may turn out to be cheesy, but it's a case of wait and see, this game will all be about gameplay and working together to solve puzzles like it says, I know for one I am pumped about this game, rally can't wait to see the whip in action with move, yes it sounds geeky lol

I want Sorcery to be Move's killer app, not this. I love Jak and Ratchet so this will be a must get for me, but I want to see Sorcery achieve AAA (or at least AA) status in both reviews and sales. It's go the makings of a game that the kids will pester their parents about, it just needs to put it all together.

well i don't think this move heroes will be quite AAA, and it will have not as good story as sorcery but it may be the first proper hardcore game that is just move based to use motion controls properly, well depending on it's release, but i agree i want sorcery to do really well too as i'm really looking forwards to it and it looks better than skyward sword on motion controls anyway

Sounds cool! Seems like Move owners are getting lots of great core titles that Kinect owners are still desperately hoping for.

What do you mean? Aren't Project Draco, Rise of Nightmares, Codename D and Steel Battalion already announced?

OT: looks nice! hope you still can play it with a DS3..

Yes it will.

so it has a story then oh cool from the preview it sounded all gameplay

eff sorcery , i want this to do good so Naughty dog can stop torturing poor nathan drake.